The Future of Corporate Security

In October 2014 I wrote this below article on the future of corporate security which in summary encouraged corporate organisations to build their own in-house security teams.

Since then, in the the last 5 years, we've seen moves towards in-house Travel Security departments within most of the worlds biggest media and tech firms and a clear understanding amongst most of the energy and tech sectors that in-house training is needed.

Trends we're not yet seeing, but which are paramount to future business stability are:

Defence Budgets

Staff Mental and Physical Wellbeing, Learning & Development budgets are not yet embracing the need to see staff personal security and safety as a vital player in their employee workforce stability. Security is no longer a subject that can be provided for simply as a service, it requires now instilled learning within your workforce by way of information, awareness and behavioural training.

We're seeing HR departments struggle to find the funding they need to upskill workers who are having problems getting to and from work safely, whether that's staff based at HQ location or travelling internationally for work.

Progressive players are allocating Defence Budgets which are dedicated to provide a preventative educational approach to upskilling workforces with information, awareness, key life skills and vital protocols for individual and company safety. If you think your company doesn't have the funds I can assure you your annual prevention spending would be less than your average Corporate Wellbeing budget, and yet personal safety training, as a corner stone of individual wellbeing > find out more here, is a fundamental need for performance.

Cyber Security Education

Cyber Security is a flood-market for new software and systems but how many corporate department leaders know how to implement the knowledge they need on a day to day basis throughout their teams? Basic day to day behaviours make up the building blocks of outcomes so consider series of CPDs and staff learning on this subject for this year's professional development.

As with staff safety, cyber safety needs to start from a foundation of educating the workforce, with layers of relevant services ontop. (It's not just layers of relevant services which are abstract to the daily users.)

Another one to watch for is the use of your existing IT support teams as your new Cyber Security department. Make sure you equip any existing personnel you are utilising for new positions with the adequate training to transfer both their skillsets and their thinking over from support to security.

In House Security

As in my previous article of 5 years ago, we're still seeing mass outsourcing for security personnel. For companies which have long term forecast for security services within their own operations now is the time to start structuring in-house teams and building a cohesive and seamless approach between your prevention, your on-location cover and your response strategies.

Joining The Dots

Lastly, in a global work environment which requires the security of your people, places, building access, travel, tech, information, data, assets and futures, assign a leadership who can see the bigger picture, coordinate coverage and delivery with quality assurance.

Author: Kirsty Henderson is the Head of Personal Safety London and Founder and CEO of Five Rings Training, FRT Training & Research Institute. She is a Speaker and Advisor to global corporate organisations. For more information contact through www.personalsafetylondonuk.com